At Monday’s unveiling of the new bus, OCTA officials were joined by representatives from several state congressional offices and by representatives from partnering agencies and transportation companies. They included: Federal Transit Administration, Center for Transportation and the Environment, Ballard Power Systems, ElDorado National-California and BAE Systems.
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At Monday’s unveiling of the new bus, OCTA officials were joined by representatives from several state congressional offices and by representatives from partnering agencies and transportation companies. They included: Federal Transit Administration, Center for Transportation and the Environment, Ballard Power Systems, ElDorado National-California and BAE Systems.
Calif.’s Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) unveiled its first zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell bus at an event on Monday as part of a continuing effort to expand and improve an eco-friendly transportation system.
The new bus — wrapped with a mural of California poppies — is part of a two-year demonstration project to complement OCTA’s existing fleet. OCTA currently has approximately 550 buses, of which 97% run on clean-burning natural gas. By the end of this year, 100% of OCTA buses will run on natural gas.
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Funding for the project was provided by the Federal Transit Administration under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program. The program includes testing and demonstration of fuel cell bus technology.
Hydrogen fuel-cell-electric buses are powered by oxygen and hydrogen. These two components are combined to produce electricity, heat and water. The new bus uses fuel cells to convert chemical energy stored by hydrogen fuel into electricity. Fuel-cell-electric vehicles are zero-emission vehicles. As the fuel-cell-electric bus operates, it will emit only water, creating cleaner air and a healthier environment.
“As a large urban operator in Southern California, OCTA is setting a strong example for a public agency striving to make positive impacts on the environment,” said Darrell Johnson, OCTA’s CEO. “We are proactive in our efforts to join the cutting-edge community of hydrogen-fueled transportation.”
OCTA will utilize the hydrogen fueling station at the University of California Irvine, which deployed its first fuel cell-powered bus in April 2015.
At Monday’s unveiling of the new bus, OCTA officials were joined by representatives from several state congressional offices and by representatives from partnering agencies and transportation companies. They included: Federal Transit Administration, Center for Transportation and the Environment, Ballard Power Systems, ENC and BAE Systems.
The delivery marks the first car in a 374‑vehicle order and begins the arrival of a new generation of higher‑capacity, more reliable, and more comfortable trains for one of the country’s busiest commuter rail systems.
Vehicles that improperly use busways and bus lanes, block bus stops, or illegally double-park will receive warning notices in the mail for an initial period of 60 days, followed by summonses thereafter.
The project, finalized on February 12, provides the city with two different configurations of high-definition cameras to outfit 16 buses in the Pretzel City Area Transit fleet.
The proposed acquisition of a company with deep digital expertise and expected 2026 revenues of over $220 million marks a significant step in Hitachi Rail’s strategy to operate as a leading global digital mobility player, the company said.
The board authorized a five-year contract, with two one-year options, to Tolar Manufacturing Company Inc., for the fabrication and installation of upgraded passenger amenities at bus stops across the DART Service Area.
As motorcoaches navigate increasingly congested urban corridors filled with pedestrians, cyclists, scooters, and distracted drivers, safety leaders across the industry are confronting a growing challenge: visibility.
